American English pronunciation

How to pronounce sign

IPA transcription: ['saɪn]

Hear “sign” pronounced

['saɪn]

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['saɪn]

Quality: 1.00

['saɪn]

Quality: 1.00

Noun

  • any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message

    “signals from the boat suddenly stopped”

  • a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)

    “he showed signs of strain”

    “they welcomed the signs of spring”

  • a public display of a message

    “he posted signs in all the shop windows”

  • structure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted

    “the highway was lined with signboards”

  • (astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided

  • having an indicated pole (as the distinction between positive and negative electric charges)

    “he got the polarity of the battery reversed”

    “charges of opposite sign”

  • (medicine) any objective evidence of the presence of a disorder or disease

    “there were no signs of asphyxiation”

  • an event that is experienced as indicating important things to come

    “he hoped it was an augury”

    “it was a sign from God”

  • a gesture that is part of a sign language

  • a fundamental linguistic unit linking a signifier to that which is signified; --de Saussure

    “The bond between the signifier and the signified is arbitrary”

  • a character indicating a relation between quantities

    “don't forget the minus sign”

Verb

  • approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation

    “All parties ratified the peace treaty”

    “Have you signed your contract yet?”

  • mark with one's signature; write one's name (on)

    “She signed the letter and sent it off”

    “Please sign here”

  • be engaged by a written agreement

    “He signed to play the casino on Dec. 18”

    “The soprano signed to sing the new opera”

  • engage by written agreement

    “They signed two new pitchers for the next season”

  • communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs

    “He signed his disapproval with a dismissive hand gesture”

    “The diner signaled the waiters to bring the menu”

  • make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection; consecrate

  • place signs, as along a road

    “sign an intersection”

    “This road has been signed”

  • communicate in sign language

    “I don't know how to sign, so I could not communicate with my deaf cousin”

Adjective

Usage examples

  • Plainfield, in the eastern part of the township, is a census-designated place.
  • The "smoking pipe" shape was designed to increase the quantity of available ink.
  • Mesereau resigned from the case, declining to explain why.
  • The process of encrypting the hash value of a message is called digital signature.
  • Indeed, in Bollywood music, the designation is actually music director.
  • McLeod and Rae resigned their party leadership posts not long after the campaign.
  • According to the needs, the distinguishing signs would be set or no longer assigned.
  • The sun was setting when the boy's heart sounded a danger signal.
  • "Dolphin" was Byrd's third assignment after graduating from the Naval Academy.
  • Her decision to resign as chair before the commission completed its report was controversial.